by Hart, Allysa
“I can’t keep it.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know how to finish fixing it up. I don’t know the first thing about running a business, and I belong in the city.”
“The city isn’t far and what do you need to know? It’s all here.” He swept his arms, indicating the boxes of clean merchandise ready to go up onto the shelves.
My mother hadn’t known the first thing about running a business either, but she had loved every minute of working in her shop. She bought and sold things that caught her eye with no real rhyme or reason. She was not out to make millions, she just wanted to live her life.
I had millions. I didn’t need the money from the shop to live, but I also had no real direction in which to go. I missed the city. The sights, the smells, the people, all so different than the country. But the country had grown on me significantly. The fresh air and the open spaces were so refreshing. I loved all of the plants and flowers, and life moved a lot slower. Meeting the owners of the other shops and getting to know them a bit had been an adventure in itself. Each of them had their own story and had welcomed me into the town like a long lost child, especially after finding out Mary was indeed my mother. Leaving was going to be difficult.
“I need to move on. I promised her I would find my place and be happy. I don’t care if it takes the rest of my life to fulfill that promise, I’m determined to do it.”
Callum wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “How do you know this is not your place? Think about the last few weeks. Think about how much you have changed. Right here, in this shop, with me, this is where you belong, little sprite. This is your happy.”
I was silent for a long moment. I had no argument. Once again, my man was right. “But what do I do about all of this? I can’t finish this on my own.”
“You do have a wish left, you know.”
I closed my eyes and took some deep breaths to fend off the anxiety.
“You still don’t trust me,” Callum expressed with disappointment.
He couldn’t be more wrong. I trusted him with every fiber of my being. Pulling out from under his arm, I turned to face him. “Genie, I’m ready for my last wish.”
His pleased smile gave me the confidence I needed to follow through.
“I wish this store was fully restored to exactly what my mother dreamed it could be.” Closing my eyes, I listened for the words that could potentially be the last thing he ever said to me. A soft kiss landed on my lips. I opened my eyes in time to watch him raise his hand into the air.
“Your wish is my command.” With a snap, the room around me morphed. The shelves filled with merchandise, the racks rebuilt, and clothes hung up. The dark wood floors gleamed with polish and the glass of the display cases clear as crystal. It was as if the store had been picked out of a magazine, yet it all felt so warm and familiar. There was only one small problem, Callum was gone. I saw no trace of him anywhere.
Running up the newly finished stairs, I slammed open the door. The apartment had morphed also. Everything new and updated, exactly like the space I always imagined myself living in… but still no Callum.
“Callum! Callum Graham! Where are you? Please, don’t do this! If you are playing some kind of sick joke, I swear to God I am going to kick your ass!” I stomped my feet in frustration. He couldn’t be gone. He promised me, and I believed him. I trusted him like he wanted me to. So where the hell was he?
Heading downstairs, I went into the office. A new computer replaced the dinosaur that used to occupy the entire surface of the desk, but I noticed little else. I charged straight toward the secret door, on a mission. When I hit the wall, nothing happened. It didn’t swing open as it had in the past, and I could not even see cracks or creases where the door had been. It was a solid wall.
“What the hell?” I screamed as I pounded on the wall. “Why won’t you open? There’s a whole room back here. I saw it!”
Leaving the office, I walked around back to where the room should be. In the wall was a large metal door. A safe of some sort, with a keypad for entry. “Great. How the hell am I supposed to know what the code is?”
Taking a wild stab in the dark, I punched in my birthdate. The red light turned green and a click came from the inside. Pulling the door open. I held my breath. The uncertainty of what could be in there scared me half to death, but I had to find Callum.
To my dismay, it was empty. “What do you need a huge safe for, if you have nothing to put in it?” I walked the perimeter, thoroughly confused. With the configuration of the store, this space must replace the old witch’s room I had found Callum’s bottle in. But why get rid of it? Why the safe? And where the hell was Callum?
Panic bubbled right below the surface. “This can’t be happening. He has to be here somewhere. I need him. Callum!” I let out a strangled scream before collapsing into a heap on the floor. My worst nightmare had come to pass. He was gone.
I spent the next few days in my bed. I couldn’t bring myself to care about anything. My only thoughts were on the love of my life who had disappeared. I cursed myself for making that wish. I cursed him for breaking a promise. I cursed the universe for taking him from me. I hated everyone and everything, and I could not figure out how life was supposed to go on.
My entire body ached from not moving. My stomach twisted, begging me to find some sustenance, but I had no strength and no will. My life was over. More than once, I had searched the apartment for pills of any kind, kicking myself for having the hospice nurse take all the leftovers. I wanted the all-encompassing pain to stop. I was drowning in grief and I wanted to put an end to it all.
There was nothing left for me in this life. I had estranged myself from my father. My love had been stolen from me. There would never be another man like Callum. Not just a genie, he was my soul mate. Why wasn’t I his? The thought of him with someone else churned my stomach, but I had thrown up so many times already there was simply nothing left. The food in the apartment had all gone bad, and I couldn’t bring myself to replenish it. People had come to the door more than once, but I never answered. I couldn’t handle their questions and their sympathetic eyes.
“Care to explain this mess, little sprite?”
It wasn’t the first time I had heard his voice in these lonely days. It was as if my subconscious tried to fool me into snapping out of my depressed stupor. Rolling over in bed, I covered my head with the pillow.
The pillow was torn from my fingers, scaring me so much I rolled off the side of the bed. Jumping up, I turned to see a man standing in my bedroom. Not just any man. Callum. But he was different, his skin the color of smooth golden oak and his hair brown with perfect blonde highlights. I almost didn’t recognize him, but for his eyes. I would never forget those eyes.
“C-C... No. It can’t be. You disappeared! You’ve been gone for days!”
“It’s me, little sprite. I’m so sorry it took so long for me to return to you. I didn’t know exactly what would happen. No one ever told me. But I’m here now, and I will never leave your side again.
My entire body trembled, and my heart beat so fast it made me dizzy. My vision darkened, and I felt myself fall, but the impact never came.
Waking up in my bed, I knew I wasn’t alone. I heard a chair scrape the floor and turned to meet the deep-purple eyes that had haunted my dreams.
“God, I missed you,” he admitted, running the back of his hand gently down my cheek.
I pressed hard against his touch. I needed to know he was really there. I needed to feel his warmth and his strength. I would not survive another torturous dream. “I had so many dreams. Promise me you aren’t a dream. Promise me!” The last two words came out in a pleading sob.
Pulling the covers from my body, he scooped me into his arms and held me tightly against his chest. “It’s me, sprite. I swear it’s me. What can I do? How can I prove it?”
My entire body shook, and I could not get close enough to him. “I need to feel you. I need to feel all of you,
Please.”
Laying me down, he shucked his clothing and crawled on top of me, covering my body with his own. He kissed the tear tracks from my eyes all the way down to my chin before nuzzling into my neck.
Frantically, I shimmied out of my own clothing and wrapped my arms around him. My nipples stood at attention as he rubbed his chest against me. His lips trailed down over my collarbone and chest but avoided the sensitive peaks. Boldly, I wrapped my fingers in his hair and attempted to guide his mouth to where I needed it the most. Peeling out of my grasp, he regarded me for a moment before lifting his hand and snapping his fingers. I sucked in a deep breath, but before I could do anything, my hands were bound above my head. “But, how?” I asked as I tugged on the rope.
“Seems as long as I behave myself and follow the rules, I get to keep a few of my tricks.” He winked.
“Rules aren’t my thing,” I sassed.
“Don’t worry. I know how to keep your snarky little butt in line, don’t I?”
The veiled threat sent a shiver down my spine. I knew I could keep pushing and get exactly what I wanted. “I don’t know about that. You’ve been gone so long, I think you may have forgotten.”
“Is that how you want to play this?” He raised a brow at me, and I bit my lip in reply as I turned away from his knowing gaze. “Sprite, look at me,” he commanded.
Closing my eyes tight, I turned back and took a deep breath before doing as he asked.
“Good girl. Now, if you want a spanking, I would be happy to oblige, but I want to hear you ask for it.”
“What?” I screeched. He’d never made me ask before. He was in charge. He decided what was what. I didn’t need to ask because he always just knew.
“I want you to ask me to spank you.” he repeated.
“But why? We never did that before!” I exclaimed as I tried to wiggle away from him.
“Stop throwing a tantrum and listen to me,” he barked. Surprised, I fell still and waited to hear what he had to say. “Good girl, thank you. Now, I told you I got to keep a few of my tricks, but not all of them. I can no longer tap into that mind of yours. While I don’t believe this will be a long-term issue, I need to relearn a few things about you. We have always had a special bond, and I know what your body craves, but I need to hear you ask for it. I need to hear you are ready to submit to me in all things. I need you to tell me you will be my wife.”
My eyes filled with tears and, as he continued to speak, I lost my breath. He had never asked me to submit to him, it had simply been something I did. He had spanked me when I deserved it. Always on his terms. But this was new and different. He was giving me some control. I wasn’t sure I liked it.
“I want to submit. I want to be your wife. I need to.”
“Then do as I have asked. Show me how badly you want it.”
My chin quivered, and my voice shook with my embarrassment. “Will you please spank me, Sir?”
Leaning down, he kissed me gently. “That’s my girl. Why do you need a spanking? Have you been naughty?”
“No, Sir!” I shook my head. “I-I need to feel the sting. I need to know you are here and what you are saying is true.”
“That wasn’t so hard now, was it?” My wrists released, I was pulled into his arms once more. Straddling his lap, I wished he had stripped himself completely. The bulge behind his boxers pressed against my heat. Well, I just found the second perk of his being human. “You are naughty. You don’t get any of that until I make an honest woman out of you,” he teased.
I reared back and looked him in the eyes. “You’re joking right?”
“I have never been more serious.”
“But, we basically have had sex already. What’s the difference?” I couldn’t help my pitiful whine. I wanted him, and I wanted him now.
“That was then, this is now, and I’m sorry, little sprite. I’m kind of old-fashioned in that way.”
I let my forehead drop to his shoulder. “Ugh! you are so frustrating!”
“Yes well, it’s about to get worse.” Flipping me stomach down, he situated me for my spanking.
“No! No no no! If you aren’t going to fuck me, you don’t get to spank me!” I kicked and yelled.
Callum chuckled, “Oh is that right? Well, if that was the case a few seconds ago, it is certainly not the case now. Have you developed a dirty mouth again so soon?”
I hadn’t realized what I’d said until he pointed it out. “Oops.” I covered my eyes. “I didn’t mean it like that! It’s just another word for sex! Come on! It’s different.”
“It most certainly is not different. I have told you more than once I dislike the use of vulgar words. You have been punished for it multiple times. I am now making it my mission this will be the final time we discuss this.”
I gulped. This was not good. When Callum had a mission, nothing could stop him from pursuing it. I had learned that in my very first encounter with him. “I’m sorry, Sir. Please don’t punish me.”
“Do you want to submit to me, little sprite?” I nodded without a thought. “Then you have earned this punishment. You need to know I will always follow through with my promises.” he announced before the first stinging swat found my backside.
My heart pounded, and my palms were sweating as I stood staring at myself in the mirror. My simple knee-length white dress floated around me, making me feel like I could lift off the ground at any moment. Of course, it might have been my mood. The day had finally come when I was going to marry my genie. He wasn’t technically a genie anymore, but he still managed to make all of my dreams come true and then some. Callum was still getting acclimated to life as a human. It cracked me up every time he tripped on something or complained about wearing clothes. I tried to get him to agree to a “clothing optional” lifestyle, but the stubborn man wanted to wait for our special night for the big reveal. He thought pretty highly of himself, for sure.
Picking up my flowers, I took one last look at myself. Six months before I would have laughed in the face of anyone who told me how my life was going to end up, but now I could not imagine anything better. Well, not completely true. I picked up the framed photo of my mother I always kept close. Her smiling eyes and snarky grin were all the reminder I needed of the woman I now proudly called Mom. “I wish you were here,” I choked out. “I am so thankful for everything you did for me. You changed my life, gave me a purpose, taught me how to love and trust. I promise to keep living in a way that makes you proud.” A chuckle came through my emotion laced monologue. “We both know Callum won’t let me stray too far.”
Grabbing a tissue, I dabbed my tears gently as to not smudge my makeup. I kissed the photo before setting it down next to me. I had decided to carry it down the aisle with me. Mom deserved to be a part of our special day.
After one last deep breath, I left the office of the shop and stepped onto the white runner placed at the mouth of the hall. The whole town had showed up to witness Callum and I getting married. We had told them all he was a boyfriend from back home who had been tying up loose ends before he could join me here. I teased him mercilessly about lying, but we had no other explanation. He had been my boyfriend, of sorts, and he was from my home. This was my home. My real home. I still loved the city, but that life was not for me anymore. I was the owner and operator of an amazing store that attracted tourists from all over. The online store also boomed. People loved the unique things that could only be found in a place like this, and being able to shop from the comfort of their own homes made it even better.
Callum helped a lot in the store also, but he was more apt to choose the domestic chores. His cooking skills surpassed his customer service. Although, after his last debacle with the washing machine, he was no longer allowed to touch the dirty clothes.
One foot in front of the other until I could finally turn the corner and lay eyes on my man. He had been able to conjure up his own tuxedo to my specifications, and it fit him like a glove. The jacket hugged his broad muscled chest, and his red
bow tie matched the blood-red of my roses. I made him promise me that after the ceremony and reception, he would model the bow tie for me, only the bow tie. My eyes landed on his, and the emotion I saw there took my breath away. I could not imagine loving someone as much as I loved him, nor could I imagine being loved by anyone else the way he loved me. We were wholly and truly soul mates.
* * *
Kicking off my shoes, I fell backward onto the bed. “Holy crap, that was a fun day, but I’m exhausted.”
Callum joined me, having already unbuttoned the top of his dress shirt during the reception. “You’d better rest up, because I have plans for that delectable body of yours, and none of them include sleeping,” he growled in my ear.
My pussy spasmed at the promise. I had been ready for him for days, so it didn’t matter how tired I was, there was zero way I was going to sleep until he fed my need. I turned into him and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Are you going to let me sleep in tomorrow?” I teased, placing little kisses on his nose and around his mouth.
Grabbing my chin, he gazed at me, eyes hungry with lust. “You will be lucky if I let you out of bed at all for the next few days.”
“Yes, Sir,” I purred.
“Good girl. Let’s get you out of this dress. It looks uncomfortable.”
